Fourteenth: Vintage is the New Thing
We are known for our modern and contemporary custom headpiece designs. But as we celebrate our 24th Anniversary, Headpiece.com is changing in incredible ways!
Photo by Antionetta Henry Photography
Modern Headpiece Styles
The quality of our work is unsurpassed, and we bring a level of craftsmanship to the bridal accessory world that is hard to beat. I don’t know of any other company that offers the level of custom that we provide.
Photos by GR Productions
“If a bride can dream it, or I can help them to dream it, I can design it. Brittany’s stunning Galia Lava wedding gown had soft accents of blue. I recognized the stones on her gown were in the color of Air Blue Opal, so I suggested we design her headpiece with touches of this beautiful blue shade of crystal.”
Kristen wanted her headpiece to be a statement, and she wanted it to be seen from all angles. When a bride shares her hairstyle inspiration with me, I often design her accessories to work in tandem with the elements of her hairdo.
Photo by Tom Wall Photography
The style and beauty of Grace Kelly influenced Emily’s wedding style. Her hand-designed crown added an element of tasteful grandeur. Every piece of metal was configured to fit the shape of her head and the desired height. Each stone is individually applied by hand with consideration of the number of facets, size, and shape to give the desired amount of brilliance. Even the most intricate details affect the end result of the final design.
Photo by Leandro Da Silva Photography
Raquel knew the exact accessory style she wanted. She relied on my expertise when deciding on the width of the sparkling headband. Adding extra crystal in key areas created the perfect balance of texture and shine.
Photo by Michael J Ramos Photography
Images by Antonietta Henry Photography
While my love and passion for designing modern, one-of-a-kind headpieces are unwavering, I am being led in a different direction. My unique design skills are being sought after by brides around the country. Why is this happening, and how is Headpiece.com changing?
“I have always worked on vintage headpieces and veils, but I noticed a considerable uptick in inquiries last fall, not just local brides but brides from all over the country, so much so that I began to track how they discovered us.”
The typical response was, ”You came up number one on Google” or “I found you on Instagram.” Well, what was I doing differently to cause this paradigm shift? In addition to writing more blogs about vintage restyles, I began following Jenn’s Trends on Instagram. Jenn Herman is a social media guru and author who travels the world doing speaking engagements to help businesses and creators find success on Instagram. After reading her sensible and easy-to-understand posts, I joined her Profit Your Profile membership to up my Instagram game.
“In the online world, there is Google, and there is social media. People go to Google to find businesses and resources, absolutely! But looking at a website isn’t really a “truth” test on what a business does or what people think of it. That’s where social media comes into play. Most consumers will find a business on Google but then head to social media to research the company further. And with what you do in bridal, Instagram is a goldmine for reaching your target audience.”
Author, Public Speaker, and Instagram genius Jenn Herman.
During one of our Profit Your Profile sessions, Jenn said, “If you want to grow your business on Instagram, do Reels! Reels! Reels!” I quivered at the thought of this. I had only made one other Reel in my career, which was torture! Creating it took forever, and I would rather use that time designing.
I accepted Jenn's challenge and created my second Reel. I pressed post and didn't bother much with it until I saw the views and realized my Reel was going viral. This short Instagram Reel about a bride wishing to use her late mother's 1980s headpiece racked up nearly 700K plays and over 22K likes. In the coming weeks, my business changed dramatically!
“I think your Reel did so well because of the emotional impact it had. The sequence of the video is a great story and ties into emotions of weddings, families, and the sentiment of a family heirloom. Once it started to gain momentum, Instagram recognized it was performing well, and they bumped up the distribution in things like Explore. As it continued to perform well, more shared it. Instagram kept showing it in search and Explore, and you had a snowball cascading down the mountainside, getting bigger and bigger every day!”
@Jenns_Trends Instagram post
@Headpiececom Instagram Reel
Vintage is the New Thing
Vintage restoration and restyle are trending because brides wish to be connected to their family in a deeper and more meaningful way on their wedding day. Many brides want to feel close to their missing mom or grandmother. Others love the nostalgic idea of putting a new and fashionable spin on an old family headpiece or veil.
Our consultations are virtual for brides wishing to work with us from afar. I love using FaceTime to meet. Virtual brides get the same personalized design service as our in-store clients, and always end with a quick tour of the shop. Out-of-state brides love meeting and knowing they aren’t sending their heirloom pieces off to someone with a glue gun working on their kitchen table.
“What I love the most about working with vintage pieces is that each headpiece, or veil, has its own unique story and design challenges. Color change, deterioration, size, and outdated style are common issues. As a designer, the most satisfying part of a restoration or restyle is seeing the before and after. It is just as emotional for me as it is for the bride and her guests.”
This silk fabric 1987 floral crown is awaiting a new frame to reduce bulk and provide comfort for our bride.
Extensive work will be required to transform this oversized 1987 crown into a scaled-down backstyle while preserving the integrity of the original design.
I can’t wait to work on this 1974 vintage lace Juliet Cap! I will restyle it into the unimaginable.
Steady hands are required to restore this extremely fragile 1950s beaded lace crown to its original shape.
“Most brides don’t realize the possibilities for restyling their mom’s pouffy 1980s bridal veil. Once I have completed repurposing an old wedding veil, it is impossible to tell its age. My wedding veil restyles look so current; often, only the bride knows it is vintage.”
Wax flower crowns are also an area of expertise for me. I have worked on numerous old pieces, often educating the bride that the heirloom she possesses isn’t plastic but made of wax!
When a bride whose mom has passed away comes to my shop, it becomes so emotional. My bride talks, and I listen with an open heart. While I have recently experienced losing my mom, I will never know what it is like not having her there on my wedding day. When I deconstruct treasured gowns or headpieces to create something anew, my heart pounds while I breathe in the scent of a cherished garment, and I envision the bride of the past walking down the aisle, a life so missed. Kelly Mack is one such bride.
“The place where I bought my gown had a matching veil at almost the same cost as a custom veil. It seemed pointless to spend money on a veil that had no meaning. I knew it was meant to be when I found Marie. Without my mom with me on my wedding day, having a veil designed from my mom’s dress means the world to me.”
“I always say God gave me incredible gifts. I feel He has led me to so many special brides to share those gifts. I am filled with grace as Headpiece.com continues to change.”
See you next month on the Fourteenth